This bill proposes to increase the New Jersey child tax credit for families with children under six years old and to expand eligibility to include children aged six through 11. Under the new provisions, taxpayers with an income of $30,000 or less would receive a $2,000 credit for each child under six, while those with children aged six to 11 would receive a $1,000 credit, with amounts gradually decreasing as income rises to $80,000. The legislation also sets a maximum total credit limit of $2,500 per taxpayer and clarifies that the credit is refundable if it exceeds the tax owed. These changes would apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, for resident New Jersey taxpayers.
This New Jersey bill requires hospitals to obtain a state certificate of need before selling or leasing their property to real estate investment trusts, ensuring such deals do not jeopardize public health or the hospital's financial stability. The legislation mandates that these transactions use a standardized contract form developed by the Department of Health, which includes clauses allowing buyers to reclaim funds if performance targets are missed, giving priority to lessees in future sales, and permitting reduced rent during financial hardships. Additionally, the bill requires hospital owners to submit annual financial statements to the Department of Health regarding costs associated with these agreements.
This bill creates a 12-member task force to study how safe students are when schools open and close each day. The group will examine bus loading procedures, traffic congestion around schools, and whether enough police or other staff are present during arrival and departure times. Members include representatives from various education organizations, government officials, and parents, who will work without pay to review current practices and research. The task force must organize within 60 days and submit a final report with its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year. Once the report is submitted, the task force will end its work.
This New Jersey bill lowers the minimum required liability insurance coverage for autocabs from $1.5 million to $200,000. The change directly affects owners of autocabs operating in the state by reducing the financial protection they must maintain. The legislation amends existing statutes to specify that autocabs must carry policies covering at least $200,000 for bodily injury, death, or property damage per accident. This adjustment aligns the insurance requirements for autocabs with the lower limits set for other non-commercial vehicles in the state.
This New Jersey bill requires pharmacy benefits managers to be paid only a flat, itemized service fee rather than commissions tied to drug prices or sales volume. The law directly affects insurance carriers, pharmacy benefits managers, and the state's Department of Banking and Insurance by mandating that compensation reflect the fair market value of actual services provided. Under the new rules, managers cannot receive fees based on drug costs, rebates, or the number of prescriptions filled, and carriers must submit detailed documentation to verify these payments. The legislation aims to ensure that administrative fees are transparent and not passed on to patients through inflated drug pricing.
This bill creates a new, independent New Jersey Human Rights Commission to regularly review the state's human rights situation and develop public standards for government contracts. The commission will be made up of ten public members representing various communities, along with two senators and two assembly members, with appointments distributed among the Governor, Senate President, and Speaker of the General Assembly. It also authorizes New Jersey to join an interstate compact that allows states to participate in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review process, even though the federal government has chosen not to engage in that international review.
This bill designates May 24, 2026, as "Watchung Centennial Jubilee Day" to mark the 100th anniversary of the Borough of Watchung's incorporation. As a commemorative resolution, it does not alter laws or allocate funds but formally recognizes the borough's history and civic milestones. The measure directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to the borough's mayor and council. It serves as an official state acknowledgment of the community's heritage and growth since 1926.
This bill creates the Employment First Commission within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to improve job opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The commission will consist of 17 members, including state officials and representatives from disability advocacy groups, who will work to analyze data and provide input on employment policies. Its main duties include gathering information on service needs, coordinating efforts across different state agencies, and developing a dedicated webpage to share employment resources. The commission will meet regularly to ensure that competitive, integrated employment remains a priority in public services for people with disabilities.
This bill requires New Jersey to pay child care subsidies for three- and four-year-olds at a rate equal to the state's per-pupil preschool education funding, but only for high-quality programs rated by the Grow NJ Kids system. It establishes an annual review process to adjust these subsidy amounts based on current education aid figures and mandates that the Division of Family Development create an application process for eligible providers. Additionally, the legislation directs state agencies to publish application information online and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing the number of participating children and total spending, while also appropriating necessary funds from the General Fund.
This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to conduct unscheduled surprise inspections of Type I and Type II school buses in addition to their existing scheduled checks. The law mandates that these inspections cover vehicle maintenance, emissions, and the review of driver employment and fleet records, with the timing and location determined by the commission. Operators who fail to provide access to buses or records, or who falsify documents, face fines ranging from $50 to $500 per violation. Additionally, the bill allows the commission to designate alternative inspection sites if a school bus operator lacks adequate terminal facilities for thorough examinations.
Senate Joint Resolution 139 designates October each year as Opioid Abuse Prevention Month in New Jersey to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid addiction. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to hold educational activities and programs focused on prevention, recovery, and support for those affected by the crisis. This symbolic measure aims to highlight the state's ongoing struggle with prescription painkiller abuse and its link to heroin use without mandating specific policy changes or funding.
This bill, known as the Smart Camera Protection Act, regulates private outdoor security cameras in New Jersey to protect user privacy. It requires manufacturers to set any feature that shares video or data with third parties to "off" by default and mandates a clear consent screen for users to actively opt in. The law also prohibits misleading language during setup and requires existing cameras to delete past data if users choose not to share it. Ultimately, the act aims to give homeowners and businesses greater control over how their surveillance systems collect and transmit information.
